Amusement-railway.



No, 771,056. PATENTED SEPT. 27, 1904.

' A. E. W. FRAZER.

AMUSEMENT RAILWAY.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 21, 1903. RENEWED MAY 31. 1904. N0 MODEL.

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Aflomeyg UNITED STATES Patented September 27, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

AMUSEMENT-RAILWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 771,056, dated September 2'7, 1964. Application filed May 21, 1903. Renewed May 31, 1904. Serial No. 210,576. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANNE E. W. FRAZER, a

of reference marked thereon.

ways, and has for its object to provide means whereby a vehicle carrying a rider or having other propelling means may be caused to traverse the inner periphery of a circular verti Cally-arranged track.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character indicated which may be suspended from a single point on which the device may be rotated on an axis at right angles to the axis of the circular track.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for counterbalancing the weight of the vehicle and rider and for accelerating the speed of movement of the vehicle relative to the track.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the invention; and Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view on a plane at right angles to Fig. 1, showing a portion of the track and the vehicle.

In the drawings, A is a hollow circular hoop or rim having outer plate A and inner plate A the latter forming the track or pathway for the vehicle. The inner plate A is provided with a slot A The outer plate A is preferably of greater thickness than the inner rim. The side walls A*, which unite the two plates A and A serve to give the structure rigidity," as well as to conceal the moving parts. To the outer plate is secured at any convenient point anarm B, adapted to be carried in a suitable support B. The arm B is preferably made circular in cross-section to rotate in a suitable bearing formed in the support B and is also preferably provided with a gear wheel or pulley B by which the arm B, together with the hoop or rim, may be rotated at an angle to its axis. Within the hollow hoopor rim is placed a ring C, provided at suitable intervals with antifriction devices,

, bicycle. My invention relates to amusement-rail- (here shown as wheels O,) bearing against the outer face of the inner plate A The wheels O are preferably arranged to travel on the edges of the slot A and thus serve as guides, as well as antifriction devices. Secured to the ring O is a clamp G which extends through the slot and is adapted to engage and rigidly hold the vehicle D, which is here shown as a At a point diametrically opposite the clamp D a weight D is secured to the ring, the Weight being preferably equal to or slightly exceeding the weight of the bicycle with its rider.

The parts being in the position shown in Fig. 1 and the rider in position on the bicycle, as the bicycle moves forward by the action of the rider or other propelling means the weight D moves away from the highest point of the hoop or rim and begins to descend, its Weight counterbalancing the weight of the bicycle and its rider, thus permitting the full propelling force to be expended upon increasing and maintaining the speed of movement of the bicycle on the track. The rider being thus free to expend his full force in getting up speed Will be able to propel the bicycle at such speed that the centrifugal or tangential tendency resulting from the velocity of the bicycle will overcome the gravitational tendency, and he will thus be enabled to make a complete circuit of the track without falling and having made one complete circuit may continue to traverse the track for as many complete circuits as may be desirable. While the rider is thus making the circuit of the track, the track itself, as above indicated, may be rotated on an axis at right angles to its own axis through power. applied to the gear wheel or pulley B thus giving an effect of gyratory movement.

The bearing-arm B may be attached to the hoop or rim at any point desired, so as to rotate the hoop 0r rim on a vertical axis or on an axis at any desired inclination to the vertical. In the construction shown the bearing-arm B, by which the track is connected with the support B, being secured to the track at a point above its horizontal diameter, the track is suspended with the space between its lowest point and the ground free from supporting connections. If desired, the arm B may be made hollow and the outer plate A provided with an opening A at its lowest point, so that movable weights may be added to the weight D during its downward movement, the Weights dropping through the opening A as the weight D reaches the lowest point of the track. The hoop or rim may be made of such width as to permit of two or more slots being formed in its inner plate, two or more rings, with their clamps and weights, one for each slot, being used, so that two or more vehicles may make the circuit of the track simultaneously. In such case, where two vehicles are used, they will be preferably arranged to run in opposite directions.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an amusement-railway the combination of a circular track, a vehicle having independent means for propulsion, adapted to traverse the inner periphery of the track. and means for rotating the track on an axis at right angles to its axis; substantially as described.

2. In an amusement-railway the combination of a circular track, means for sustaining the track connected thereto above the horizontal diameter so that there is free space between its lowest point and the ground, and a vehicle having independent means for propulsion adapted to traverse the inner periphcry of the track; substantially as described.

3. In an amusement-railway the combination of a circular track, means for sustaining the track so that there is free space between its lowest point and the ground, means for rotating the track on an axis at right angles to its axis, and a vehicle having inde pendent means for propulsion adapted to traverse the inner periphery of the track; substantially as described.

4. In an amusement-railway the combination of a circular track, a vehicle having independent means for propulsion adapted to traverse the inner periphery of the track, and means carried by the track for counterbalancing the weight of the vehicle; substantially as described.

5. In an amusement-railway the combination of a circular track, comprising a hollow hoop or rim, a vehicle having independent means for propulsion adapted to traverse the inner periphery of the track, and means carried by the track within the hollow hoop or rim for counterbalancing the weight of the vehicle; substantially as described.

6. In an amusement-railway the combination of a circular track, comprising a hollow hoop or rim, a vehicle having independent means for propulsion adapted to traverse the inner periphery of the circular track, a ring within the hollow hoop or rim, means for connecting the vehicle and ring and a counterbalance-weight carried by the ring; substantially as described.

7. In an amusement-railway the combination of a circular track, comprising 'a hollow hoop or rim, a vehicle having independent means for propulsion adapted to traverse the inner periphery of the circular track, a ring within the hollow hoop or rim-provided with antifriction devices between it and the hollow hoop or rim, means for connecting the vehicle and ring and a counterbalance-weight carried by the ring; substantially as described.

8. In an amusement-railway the combination of a circular track, comprising a hollow hoop or rim slotted on its inner periphery, a vehicle having independent means for propulsion adapted to traverse the inner periphery of the circular track, a ring within the hollow hoop or rim, provided with a clamp extending through the slot and engaging the vehicle, and a counterbalance-weight carried by the ring; substantially as described.

9. In an amusement-railway the combination of a circular track, comprising a hollow hoop or rim slotted on its inner periphery, a vehicle having independent means for propulsion adapted to traverse the inner periphery of the circular track, a ring within the hollow hoop or rim, provided with a clamp extending through the slot and engaging the vehicle, and a counterbalance-weight carried by the ring at a point substantially diametrically opposite the clamp; substantially as described.

10. In an amusement-railway the combination of a circular track, comprising a hollow hoop or rim, a hollow arm secured to the hollow hoop or rim and a suitable support therefor, a vehicle having independent means for propulsion adapted to traverse the inner periphery of the track, a ring within the hollow hoop or rim, means for connecting the vehicle with the ring, and a weight carried by the ring, the hollow hoop or rim being provided at or near its lowest point with an opening; substantially as described.

11. An amusement apparatus comprising a whirl and means to move it during independent movement of the rider therein.

12. An amusement apparatus comprising a whirl rotatable on a normally vertical axis and means to rotate said whirl and provision for a performance therein.

13. An amusement apparatus comprising a whirl pendent from a single point.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANNE E. W. FRAZER.

Witnesses:

Jos. H. BLAoKwooD, A. P. GREELEY.

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